2007/08 Season News Item...

October 2007

News Summary


29 Oct 2007 - Weekend Review - once again, Beddington Park was the place to be for goals.  A total of 18 on the 2 main pitches!  The 2s served up a feast of a game ending up with a final scoreline of 6-4, but there could certainly have been more goals!  Shane Bowes bagged 4 to move top of the goalscoring charts, and Martin Vincent grabbed a couple of penalties.  On the neighbouring pitch the 3s strolled to an AFA Junior Cup win over Old Bromleians.  In the only other home game, the 4s won a very tight SAL Cup tie over Civil Service with only a second half penalty separating the teams.  

Away from Beddington Park, the 1s were grateful to keeper, Jamie Wilde, who saved a second half spot kick at Lennard Road, thus ensuring Ian Lewis's team, despite missing several regulars, collected a well-deserved and valuable point from what was a scrappy, hard-fought, but nevertheless, at times pulsating goal less draw with H.S.B.C. The 6s had another impressive league result, this time at Weirside, while the 7s were knocked out of the SAL Cup at Actonians.  The 8s received a walkover in the SAL Cup.

On Sunday, the U10s and U11s lost, but the U13s continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-0 win at Redbrick.
21 Oct 2007 - Weekend Review - the 1s have extended their lead at the top of Division 2 to six points after edging a nine-goal thriller against second placed Merton.  Despite the visitors having looked slightly the better of the sides in the first half, goals from Paul Pearce (7 mins) and Adam Fisk (17 & 43) nevertheless gave Ian Lewis's youngsters a 3-1 lead at the interval.  Merton reduced the arrears after the break with a goal on the hour mark but two spot kicks from Richard Webb (74 & 83) looked to have wrapped-up the points.  However, two late goals from Merton meant that home fans had to endure a nervous final couple of minutes before finally the contest was won.

There were no such worries for the 2s who stormed to a 5-0 win over Old Wilsonians thanks largely to a hattrick for Shane Bowes.  The 3s had a comfortable 4-1 home win over Crouch End Vamps in the league.

In the cup games, the 4s lost agonisingly to a last minute goal in Birmingham in the AFA Minor Cup, but there were excellent wins over Norsemen and Broomfield for the 5s and 6s respectively in the SAL cup.  The 7s and Vets lost without registering a goal.

On Sunday the U10s and U13s both won to maintain strong starts to their league campaigns.
15 Oct 2007 - Weekend Review - the 1s continue to set the pace at the top of Division Two after taking the spoils at BB Eagles.  A spectacular Andy Taylor strike seconds before the break cancelled out the host's 17th minute opener, and then Justin Said tucked away what turned out to be the winner in the 49th minute, although having hit the crossbar four times, had an effort cleared off the line, and also seen a seemingly perfectly good goal disallowed, manager Ian Lewis believes the winning margin should have been far more convincing.

The 2s were back to winning ways with a 3-1 win over EBOG.  Both sides missed a number of excellent chances to increase the scoreline.  The 3s and 4s had fine away wins, though the 5s had a bad day at the office by the sound of Dave's match report.  The 6s - aka The Dirty Dozen - took the spoils at South Bank, but failed to shower, and then hid in their cars when returning to the clubhouse (while the England game was on)?!  The 7s and 8s both lost while the Vets had a welcome return to form with a 5-0 win (admittedly only after a 30 minute delay figuring out how to get the posts unlocked!)

On Sunday the U9s were encouraged in defeat and improvement are definitely being seen.  The U10s and U11s both came away from AFC Walcountians with wins and the U13s drew 1-1 in the top of the table clash at Wimbledon Hawks - a game that could easily have finished 4-4.
7 Oct 2007 - Weekend Review - unfortunately opposition cry offs when unable to raise sides meant that Carshalton lost 2 homes games - the 6s and 8s being the unlucky teams.  

The 1s continued their good start to the season with a convincing victory over their visitors Old Lyonians, who they hit for five goals without reply.  Paul Pearce opened the scoring after 43 minutes, and Scott Poulier added a second on the stroke of half-time.  Second half goals from Pearce (68) and an own goal (73) secured the points, before Richard Webb slotted home a spot kick (78) to complete the scoring.

There were mixed fortunes for the away sides.  The 2s are out of the AFA Intermediate Cup after a narrow defeat at Egbertians 1s.  The 7s had a memorable 7-0 win at H.S.B.C., while the Vets went down 0-5 at Old Grammarians.

On Sunday, there were defeats for the U9s and U11s, a win over the Surrey Cup holders for the U13s and an astonishing recovery by the U10s.  1-4 down with 8 minutes to go, the young lads rallied to score 3 goals late on to draw the game 4-4.
4 Oct 2007 - Pearce on target for the AFA -   having made his debut for the SAL Rep side just four days previous, Paul Pearce enjoyed a fine debut for the AFA Rep side last Wednesday, scoring after 35 minutes in the 4-1 defeat of an Oxford University side coached by ex-Arsenal & England player Martin Keown. 

Many AFA supporters had made the trip to the Iffley Road Sports Complex, Oxford, and they were treated to a superb performance from their team, who fully deserved what in the end was a comprehensive victory, despite the fact that so many regulars had been missing from the starting line-up; indeed, manager Steve Surridge and his assistant Bob Leeds will be delighted to have learnt that they have real strength in depth for the coming season.